How the First Seven Consciousnesses Perceive the Objective Realm

The Nature-Realm is the shadow of the six dusts (objects of sense perception) manifested by the Tathagatagarbha based on the true essence of the external world. It is formed within the subtle sense faculties (胜义根) by the four great elements (四大). The seventh consciousness (manas) first perceives and discriminates, followed by the sixth consciousness (mental consciousness) which subsequently perceives and discriminates. If the seventh consciousness perceives these shadows without decisively engaging in detailed discrimination, the six consciousnesses cannot be born to perform discrimination. This is because when the manas does not require these discriminatory tools (the six consciousnesses), the Tathagatagarbha will not create the six consciousnesses as tools. It is impossible for the seventh consciousness not to perceive the six dusts. Relying on the Tathagatagarbha, it benefits from proximity advantage and perceives everything first. As for how it ultimately acts after perceiving, that depends on the cultivation of the manas.